“Where are we going?” I ask Raph, a few days later, as we walk out of last period physics.
It’s late afternoon, but overhead, the sun is already sinking low in the horizon. The shorter days signal the shift from autumn to winter and I can’t quite believe that I’ve managed to survive an entire season at Regency.
Raph takes my hand in his and as we walk hand in hand through the campus grounds, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, it hits me how surreal all of this is. If someone had told me at the beginning of the semester that this is how we’d end up, I would’ve laughed my ass off. After telling them to screw off, that is.
“I was thinking that we should start up your elements training again,” he replies, as we head further away from the main campus buildings and towards the training fields.
After that almost kiss in the forest and everything that happened since, needless to say, elements training with Raph had been out of the question.
I nod in agreement as we finally reach the vast training field.
Raph drops his backpack down on the grass at the edge of the field and I follow suit. He turns to me with a thoughtful expression, as if debating something in his mind.
“I’m thinking that maybe we should try something different,” he says finally.
“Okay …” I reply, although I’m not sure what he means.
I follow him to the center of the field and I expect him to run through the usual routine of talking me through how to connect with the elements. Instead, he stands facing me, as if we’re about to duel.
His next words confirm that’s exactly what he’s proposing and I can feel my body bristling in alarm. It’s one thing to face off against Layla but dueling with Raph is an entirely different ball game.
“I’m not so sure this is such a good idea …” I begin to say.
He flashes me that arrogant smile in response, which never fails to irritate the life out of me, even now.
“You scared, Jaz?” he asks.
Bastard. The challenge in his tone is clear and he knows me well enough to know that I’m not one to back down from a challenge. Especially not one from him.
“No,” I reply curtly. “I just don’t think it would be a fair match.”
His gaze softens then.
“The power that you unleashed in that duel with Layla? I’ve never seen anything like it, Jaz. I told you as much that day. You don’t need to be taught how to connect with the elements anymore; even I can see how deep that connection runs inside you. What you need now is to learn how to duel with it.”
I let out a long sigh then.
“What for? It’s not like I’ll ever have to fight in an actual duel. Unless you count the training duels in elements class,” I reply with a shrug.
In truth, I have no idea why students here even learn how to duel. I get why they need to learn how to use their elemental powers, but even then, as Raph has told me before, the elements usually run just fine on their own, unless there’s some kind of imbalance which requires the Seraph to step in. This dueling thing seems to be a hangover from a previous age. An odd tradition referred to in the pages of my Eden history textbook.
But something in Raph’s expression makes me wonder.
“You never know when it might come in useful,” is his only reply. His eyes are unreadable, but I feel a slither of discomfort nonetheless.
I don’t get the opportunity to respond, though, as he turns and heads to his end of the field.
I guess that means we’re dueling then.
Memories of that duel between Raph and Baron that I’d witnessed during my first few days at Regency flood my mind, and I say a silent prayer to the powers that be that I won’t come to regret this.
Not that I believe for a second that Raph would intentionally hurt me. At least not anymore. But I’ve seen how he fights. I’ve witnessed his raw power. The most powerful Seraph in his generation and I’m certain that he could incinerate me in the blink of an eye, even without meaning to.
Despite my apprehension, I feel a familiar wave of adrenaline rushing through my veins as I stand facing Raph from the opposite side of the field.
Overhead, the late autumn sunset paints the sky with hues of pink and purple, casting an almost magical glow on the lush green field.
I’m aware of other students crossing the campus grounds and on the other sports fields in the distance, but as I focus my senses, the entire universe narrows to just the two of us. As if we’re the only two people in the entire universe, with the elements surrounding us, our only allies. A whisper of premonition runs through me and for a split second, it feels like the very universe itself is watching, waiting. As if it’s been waiting for this moment since the beginning of time itself.
I sweep the ridiculous thought away, but the whisper of fate in my veins remains.
I expect him to make the first move. But he waits with the patience of a predator. My eyes lock with his momentarily and what I see there isn’t the face that I’m certain I, and I alone know. It’s the face of the heir to the throne of Eden. The face that everyone else in this world sees. The face that every single one of his opponents must see. It’s no wonder that no one is able to beat him.
Like a veil dropping, there isn’t even a hint of what I know lies beneath that mask. There is only the heir and as he stands there on the field, it is with the air of the crown that is his by birthright.
He read something in my expression, even across the distance. Because in an instant, that mask falters.
“You okay, Jaz?” His voice carries over to me across the vast field.
I pull myself together. Putting steel in my spine as I meet his gaze unflinchingly, I remind myself that I’m no damsel in distress or wilting flower. I’m a fucking badass. I didn’t let Raph get the better of me when we were enemies and I sure as hell won’t let him win now, even though his kisses make me feel like I’m going to faint every time.
“I’m fine,” I reply, flashing him a smirk which I know will set his temper alight. “Just don’t try to take it easy on me.”
His responding grin is nothing short of wicked.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
And with that, the duel begins.
I open with a tornado which I’m pretty damn proud of. But Raph makes quick work of dissipating it until it’s nothing more than a gust of wind. Bastard.
He counters with an almighty heat storm which feels like it’s about to burn through my skin. I barely manage to summon a rainstorm in time to stop myself from bursting into flames.
Then we’re really fighting. No holds barred. Any pretence of politeness falling away, and I fucking love it.